The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session. The new benchmark was revealed during the JAMB Policy Meeting held on July 8, 2025, in Abuja.
Key Admission Requirements for 2025/2026
- Universities: 150 minimum UTME score
- Colleges of Nursing: 140 minimum
- Colleges of Education & Agriculture: 100 minimum
- Minimum Admission Age: 16 years
These updated standards aim to promote fairness, transparency, and improved quality across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede emphasized that institutions are allowed to set higher cut-off marks but must not admit candidates below the approved thresholds.
“These cut-off marks are the minimum. Institutions may raise them, but cannot go below,” Oloyede said.
Age Requirement Now Official
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa also declared 16 as the minimum age for tertiary education admission in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of emotional and social maturity in addition to academic qualifications.
“No candidate should be admitted if they are below the age of 16,” he stated.
What’s Next?
Tertiary institutions will begin the 2025/2026 admission process based on these updated criteria. The changes are expected to streamline admissions and enhance the quality of education across Nigerian higher institutions.
